I am posting this because I know I am not the only one with this issue and I am tired of being ashamed of it.

I have a SMELLY belly button.

Every other week my belly button oozes disgusting fluid that stinks. I wash out my belly button all the time, dry it carefully and yet I still have this problem. I've been reading it online and I suspect it's a yeast infection. Tea tree oil for daily maintenance and anti-fungal cream for "breakouts" seems like the good way to go.

Also, if anyone gets a rash under your breasts (when you exercise or sweat) that's also a yeast infection and I found anti-fungal FOOT spray works great for that.

I hope that this helps someone out because I wish I would have known that this isn't all that weird!

Yep. I gets the smelly button too! I do a vinegar rinse, water rinse, THEN I use grapefruit seed extract! It's a powerful antimicrobial and works like a hot darn!

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On my own personal journey I started on September 27, 2008
Starting weight 377, Weight in spring of 2010 198, Weight in August 2011? In the 240's.
Still plugging along on this weight loss highway!

Oh my! I didn't know that could happen. I'm really glad you posted this just in case it ever does because I think that would freak me out if I hadn't ever heard of it before. I think women should be more open about things like this!

I think that everyone has a smelly belly button...I mean, it's practially an enclosed space. I remember talking about this in a group of (really good, close) friends...3 other women, all with smelly belly buttons, none of them overweight (so it's not a "fat person" thing--finally!).

For those of you that have a belly that hangs down...I have had a yeast infection there before. I didn't even realize it...but I had my annual check up and showed my Doc. She gave me some yeast infection powder...well it was a prescription. Now during the hot season I use regular powder and put it under my belly and boobies...helps a lot.

Funny thing is one of my co-workers who moved here (to the mid west) from LasVegas never really experienced HUMIDITY. Well her first summer I told her about powder under the boobies. She is a little thing too. So lots of people experience sweat in not so pleasant places Oh yeah, she was excited when I told her about the powder idea...she hadn't ever thought about it. LOL

__________________

2011(ish) and I didn't understand:Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked.
"Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat.
"I don't know," Alice answered.
"Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."
~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland 2015
I'm making a plan & working that plan. I have direction & discipline! Who knew it was possible?

I was getting a severe, awful looking rash, that my dermatologist concluded was probably sebhorreic dermatitis. She said it was caused by the same yeast that causes dandruff (I was getting it places other than my scalp - worst on my nose and forehead).

She suggested that I use a zync pyrithione shampoo (like some formulations of Head & Shoulders) as my face and body wash. She also gave me a prescription steroid cream for flares.

Now, it's the only soap I use. Zinc kills viruses and bacteria, so I also use zinc oxide cream and stick. The stick is clear, so I can use on my face. The zinc oxide cream I use is the Johnson's 3in1 (it's a diaper rash cream, I learned that the zinc oxide creams in the first aid, skin care and sunblock sections are the same formulas as diaper rash creams, only put in different boxes).

I use the Johnson's because it's the only one I've found that feels like a lotion, and not Crisco.

Since using the Head & Shoulders (usually Walmart's generic, because it's half the price), I have had almost no skin problems of any kind. I rarely even get a pimple anymore. Not only does it control the seb derm, but also my rosacea, sweaty-boob-rash, stinky bellybutton, thigh rub, under-belly rash, burning-itchy feet (they looked fine but I'm guessing I had a mild athlete's foot), scaley elbows and knees (if you've seen the movie, My Big, Fat Greek Wedding - it's my Windex)...

I use the shampoo as my daily soap, add about once a week, use the zinc cream to the problem areas. I almost never have to use the prescription steroid cream unless I've forgotten to use the zinc cream in a while.

My only complaint is that I loved scented bath products, and hate to be stuck with only a few scents (Walmart's brand has only one, but Head & Shoulders comes in a few). But even when I've tried to alternate the zinc shampoo with a regular product, I notice the difference almost immediately.

She suggested that I use a zync pyrithione shampoo (like some formulations of Head & Shoulders) as my face and body wash. She also gave me a prescription steroid cream for flares.

Kaplods, Do you find the head and shoulders dries your skin? I suffer from really dry skin all seasons of the year, not just winter. I wonder if it will affect me negatively if I use the head and shoulders as a body wash?

Also, where do you buy the clear zinc stick that you use on your face?

I would't say it hurts to *touch* my belly button, but it definitely hurts to poke it - like when cleaning it. It actually causes pain, um, elsewhere, which is weird.

__________________ Started 4/14/08 LINK TO PROGRESS PICS 1/1/2009 "It is impossible to live pleasurably without living wisely, well, and justly, and it is impossible to live wisely, well, and justly without living pleasurably" Epicurus